1.
A Primer on
Wikipedia Editathons
Dominic McDevitt-Parks
Digital Content Specialist / Wikipedian in Residence
National Archives and Records Administration
dominic.mcdevitt-parks@nara.gov
@Dominic_MP
#glamwiki

2.
Short history
Wikipedia meetups
GLAM-Wiki
● us.glamwiki.org
“Backstage Pass”
British Museum, 2010 National Archives, 2012
[London Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2014]

3.
What is it?
● On-site public outreach event
● Based around editing Wikipedia articles
● Engages local Wikipedians, staff, new
editors
[London Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2014]

4.
What is it?
Generally includes:
● Theme
● Wikipedia tutorial
● Tour/presentation
● Often lunch!
[London Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2014]

5.
Why?
Wikipedia is important.
* Over 75% of digital access to
National Archives holdings
comes via Wikipedia
[London Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2014]
1.3 billion views

6.
Why?
You’re a museum. This is your mission.
● Create/improve educational content
● Access to collections
● Digital literacy
● Staff training*
[London Institute of Contemporary Arts, 2014]

7.
What does it take?
The basics:
● Venue
● Scheduling
● Staff resources
[Rossimoda Museum of the Shoe, Venice 2013]

8.
What does it take?
Venue:
● Fit at least 20 people comfortably
● Projector
● Reliable wifi
● Outlets and power strips
[Rossimoda Museum of the Shoe, Venice 2013]

9.
What does it take?
Scheduling:
● Budget at least half a day
● Weekends, depending on audience
● Plan ahead, advertise for weeks in
advance
[Rossimoda Museum of the Shoe, Venice 2013]

10.
What does it take?
Staff resources:
● Event coordination
● Subject-matter expertise
● Involve other staff as possible
[Rossimoda Museum of the Shoe, Venice 2013]

11.
How does it work?
1. Theme
2. Event page
3. Task list and resources
4. Promotion
5. Agenda
[Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2014]

12.
How does it work?
Theme:
● This is the hook
● Exhibit, collections, anniversary, etc.
● “Civil War and American art”
● “Women in Science”
● “International Year of Statistics”
[Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2014]

13.
How does it work?
Event page:
● Page on Wikipedia with event info and
signups
● Wikipedia has templates, etc.
[Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2014]

14.
How does it work?
Task list and resources:
● List of potential topics
● Discrete and easily digestible, not
general subject areas
● Provide secondary sources ahead of
time—you’re the authority!
[Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2014]

15.
How does it work?
Promotion:
● Promote to staff and local
professionals
● Wikipedia community channels:
○ Meetups page, meetup.com, listserv,
geonotices, talk pages, etc.
● Begin promoting 1 month–2 weeks
ahead [Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2014]

16.
How does it work?
Agenda:
1. Staff welcome/subject matter intro (1 hr.)
2. Wikipedia tutorial (1 hr.)
3. Lunch/refreshments (1 hr.)
4. Editing session (2+ hrs.)
[Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2014]

17.
Things to keep in mind
● Goal is to spotlight areas of expertise, not polishing our
image.
● Staff who participate on Wikipedia are on equal footing with
all other editors
○ Must use individual, rather than shared or departmental,
accounts.
● All edits may be changed or contested. (This may even be
the start of a positive dialogue.)
[Smithsonian Institution Libraries (AAPG branch), 2014]

18.
Get creative
Scanathon at the National Archives, 2014

19.
[Smithsonian Institution Libraries (AAPG branch), 2014]
Other advice
● Record results before wrapping up!
● Manage expectations
○ Intangible outcomes as important as measurables
● Will copyright be an issue?
● Wikimedia grants programs
● Find a real Wikipedian to help you.

20.
@Dominic_MP
dominic.mcdevitt-parks@nara.gov
—
us.glamwiki.org
GLAM-US@lists.wikimedia.org
[Smithsonian Institution Libraries (AAPG branch), 2014]
Questions?
All images from Wikimedia Commons:
● Edwardx (CC-BY-SA); Niccolò Caranti (CC-BY-SA); Georgina Goodlander (CC-BY-SA); Andrew
Lih (CC-BY); Gerald Shields (CC-BY-SA), Fæ (CC-BY-SA)